Control mechanism for liquid dispensing apparatus



Feb. 27,1940. J. ,A. LOGAN 2,191,921

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JsL-PHA Zoe/w ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1940. J. A. LOGAN 2,191,927

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1957 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ja'szfi/Azjoamv *WM 0 F TTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1940. J, A, L GAN 2,191,927

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 22, 1 957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 t 2'7 /4 0/ INVENTOR JZJJEP/IAJMA/Y BY 0 WM 4" f ATTORNEYS Patented 27, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PENSIN G APPARAT Springfield, Mass., assignor to Joseph A. Logan,

LIQUID DIS- US Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company,

West Springfield, Mass,

Massachusetts a corporation of Application October 22, 1937, Serial No. 170,338

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in liquid dispensing apparatus such as a gasoline dispensing pump of the type wherein there is provided a register indicator for displaying the 5 amount of gasoline dispensed; and manual resetting mechanism for setting the indicator back to zero after each dispensing operation.

In apparatus of this character the flow establishing means usually'comprises an electric motor driven pump with a manually controlled motor switch for starting and stopping the flow. It has been common to provide an interlock mechanism between the manual control means for the pump and the manual resetting mechanism, whereby after the completion of one dispensing operation the attendant is compelled to reset the register indicator to zero before he can turn on the pump for a succeeding dispensing operation.

In the present improvement this compulsion of go resetting the indicator before turning on the pump is not required, because under some circumstances it may be desirable to operate the pump without bothering to reset, as for instance in priming the system, or for withdrawing gaso- 25 line in no sale operations. The present arrangement is such that the attendant in operating the pump is madeaware of the fact, either that the reset has or has not been made, whereby the attendant will not inadvertently proceed in oper- 30 ating'the pump for a dispensing sale operation without first resetting the register indicator.

To the end of accomplishing the aforesaid object the control mechanism for the pump com prises a turn on member which may be oper- 35 .ated manually at any time to start the pump operation. Automatic means are provided which tend to stop the pump operation but the attendant may keep the pump in operation by constant pressure with his hand on the turn on m member. If it is desired to keep the pump in operation without a continued tending by handof the turn on member, as for instance when the attendant desires to leave the pump for guiding the hose nozzle in servicing an automobile 5 with gasoline, then'a hold-on device is actuated by the attendant. The hold-on device when actuated, serves to keep the pump in operation after being started and without the necessity of the attendant keeping his hand on the turn-on member. The hold-on device and its function of keeping the. pump in operation may take several forms and in the form preferred comprises a latch or hold-on member and a handle, which latch under active by the handle for retaining the turn-on certain conditions may be rendered member in-its on position with ing.

One condition for activating the latch is that the reset mechanism must be operated to zeroize the register. A further condition'is thatthe handle must be turned to its on position. Interlock mechanism is preferably provided between said handle and the reset mechanism such as to require a reset operation before the handle member may be moved to activate the latch into retaining position with respect to said turn on member. The handle may be freely moved to its off position and when so moved serves to release the turn-on member from the latch and stop the motor.

By the arrangement above pointed out the attendant, while he may operate the pump without first resetting, he must do so intentionally and cannot do so inadvertently or by mistake. For the usual operation of dispensing gasoline to an automobile the attendant will find it more convenient if not necessary to latch the turn on" the pump operatmember in its on position and this will require,

a previous operation of the resetting mechanism.

The more particular features and advantages of the invention will become clearly apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a standard pump casing with a portion thereof removed to show location of. some of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of said casing showing some of said parts;

Fig. 3 is a full size view of the pump motor controlling mechanism largely in longitudinal section along line A--A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front view. of the same mechanism partly in section along line BB of Fig. 3. In

this view the handle is in or: position at the completion of a dispensing operation and prior to a resetting operation.

Fig. 5 is;v a similar view showing the position of the parts after a resetting operation and with.

the handle in 011 position;

.Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position which the parts of Fig. 5 assume when the handle is in on position and the push button is pushed in for being latched on; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail in end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of arrow C.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the main pump casing is indicated at I, the usual principal parts of the A spring 26 is connected between a stationary combined motor and pump unit at 2, having a motor switch contained within the casing 3. The gasoline is drawn by the pump 2 through a suction line 4 leading from a reservoir tank, not shown, and is forced through the discharge line 5, usual flow meter 6, visi-gauge indicator I, and finally through hose 8 and nozzle 9 under control of nozzle-valve lever It), all in the manner well understood. The nozzle guard II is adapted to rest upon a stationary support 12 projecting outwardly from the pump casing and' integral with a supporting bracket l3. The bracket I3 is fixed to the pump casing and serves to support many end of said shaft 23 of the parts hereinafter described. The latch operating handle I4 is fixed to a rotatable hollow spindle 15 extending through and having its bearing in support .12 and an integral projection IS on said handle is so positioned that when the nozzle 9 is, on its support l2, the guard ll of said nozzle interferes with and prevents anti-clockwise movement of. said handle I4.;'Stops 5 and 5" on the bracket l3 cooperate with lug I6 fixed to handle [4 and limit the movement of handle l4 between its off and on positions as indicated in Fig. 2.

' The register indicator for the pump is shown at I1 and in the embodiment shown is of the computer type with indicating dials at ID to show the 'quantity of fluid dispensed and indicating dials at l9 to show the cost of the same. The dial indicators at 20 show a price per unit of measure for'which said computer is adjusted to operate. The register indicator is operated )through a connecting shaft 21 from the flow meter 6. The usual resetting mechanism is provided for zeroizlng the indicators l8 and I9 after each dispensing operation, and the crank handle therefor is indicated at 22. The register and its resetting mechanism is of conventional character and need not be described in detail. The resetting crank handle 22 is fixed to a shaft 23 which extendsacross the pump casing from left to right, looking at Fig. 1, and the right hand (or a member coupled thereto) has its bearing in the bracket l3 and carries fixed thereto a cam' collar 24, the function of which will be later described.

The motor switch for the electric motor driven pump is containedwithin the casing 3, and ex-,

tending outwardly therefrom is the pivoted switch arm 25 which is movable between the of! and on positions indicated in Fig. 2 corresponding to stopping and starting the motor. A link 21 conects the switch arm 25 with a bell crank 28 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which is pivoted at 30 to a hanger 29 fixed to the bracket 13. A second arm 3|.v of said bell crank bears with its free end against the inner end=32 of a plunger 33, said plunger being -slidably moun'ted and extended through the hollow spindle [5 of the handle I4 as shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of said plunger extends outwardly from its bearing and is provided with a thumb piece or push button head 34 adapted when the plunger is pushed inwardly to be housed within a recess 35 of the handle 14.

portion of the pump casing and the arm of the bell crank lever 28 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This spring 26 constitutes automatic means tendin at all times to turn off the motor and thrust plunger 33, 34 into its outward position as shown in Fig. l. The plunger 33 constitutes what may be termed a turn-on member for the motor, and it will be obvious that pushing in the head 34 of said plunger will, through the bell crank plunger 33 in its inward position. One of the to on position, and obviously the third require- 28 and 3| and link 21, move the switch arm 25 to itson position and that as long as the operator keeps said head 34 of the plunger depressed the switch-will stay in its on position and the motor and pumping will continue in operation. 5 But as soon as pressure is removed from the plunger head 34 the switch lever 25 will automatically move to its off position and push the plunger outwardly.

In order that the attendant may be relieved from maintaining manual pressure on the plunger 33 for keeping the motor and pump on, hold-on means are provided which under certain conditions will serve to latch or hold on the requirements for making the hold-on means ef-. fective is that the reset mechanism be operated to zeroize the indicator. A further requirement is that the handle l4 shall be swung from its off ment lsthat the plunger 33 shall be pushed in by the attendant for starting the motor.v

For the accomplishment of the foregoing the following construction is provided. As shown in Figs. 3 and 7 the inner end of the plunger 33 has, 25

- fixed thereto the enlargement or head 32 and when the plunger is pushed inwardly a gap or notch N is opened up between the inner end of L the spindle l5 and said head 32 into which the foot 39 of a holding latch 31 is adapted to drop for retaining the plunger in its inward, pushed position. The latch 31 is pivotally mounted upon a bearing stud 38 projecting from the bracket l3 and is located on the inner side (to' the right viewing Fig. 3) of a toggle arm 39, which arm is also pivotally mounted on said stud 39'. The toggle arm 39 is in the form of a bifurcated plate which straddles a rocking beam 40 also pivotally mounted on said stud 39, the function of which I will be later described. The upper end of the toggle arm 39 is pivotally connected at 4| to a toggle rod 42 and constituting therewith a cock ing toggle. The upper end of said toggle rod 42 is slidably received in a rocking pivot stud 43 extending from the bracket 13. A toggle spring between the said pivot stud 43 and shoulder 44 on the rdd 42, whereby said spring tends to keep said toggle in either one of two cocked positions, the cooked position at the, left shown in Fig. 4 for convenience being termed the backward cocked position andthe cocked position at the right shown in Fig. 5 being termed the forward cocked position. The latch 31 has a projection 44 surrounds the rod 42 and is under compression L cocked backward (Fig. 4) the pin 48 fixed t0 the arm 39 engages the upper end of the slot 49in the latch 31 and lifts up said latch to render it inoperative.

The means for cooking the toggle forward (to the right) are provided by the operation of the reset mechanism in zeroizing the register, to wit:

/, a cam 50' is fixed on cam collar 24 of the reset shaft whereby when said shaft is rotated clockwise (viewing Fig. 4) to zeroize the indicator, the

cam 50 will engageroll 5| carried between the plates of arm 39 and throw saidarm and toggle to the right or forward position shown in Fig. 5. The means for cocking the toggle backward or to the left, are provided by the stroke of the handle l4 between its on and ofl positions. Fixed to the inner end of the handle spindle I5 is a pawl carrying collar 52 having a spring pressed pawl (53 mounted therein which when the handle I4 is moved from on to off position (see-Fig. 6) is adapted to engage roller 54 carried in the toggle arm 39 and throw said arm and toggle to the left or backward position. After a reset operation which throws the toggle forward as shown in Fig. 5 a movement of. the handle l4 from off to on position causes the pawl 53, to ride idly by the roller 54 without disturbing the position of said toggle.

The function of the toggle 39, 42 as above de scribed is to make necessary a reset operation before the latch can serve to hold on the motor, and in order that said toggle may properly so function it must be cocked backward (to the left) at the conclusion of each dispensing opveration. This result is accomplished through the operating strokes of handle I4, which is employed in its on stroke to ultimately latch the motor on and in its ofi stroke to unlatch it for stopping. Therefore an important feature of the present improvement is the provision of means whereby the handle l4 cannot put the latch 31 into its holding position until said handle has completed one of its toggle cocking strokes (in this case the idle pawl stroke) and furthermore the handle l4 cannot cause withdrawal of the latch "31 to stop the motor until said handle has fully completed its other toggle cocking stroke,

viz. the active pawl stroke.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the inner end of the handle spindle I 5 has mounted on its fixed collar 52 a surrounding loose cam collar 55 which has a pin and curved slot connection with the collar 52, the pin being indicated at 56 and the slot at 51 (see Fig. 6). A spring 58 connected at one end to pin 59 on the cam collar 55 and at its other end to a stud 60 on latch 31 yieldingly tends to make cam collar 55 follow the collar 52 in clockwise movements of the latter whereas the pin 56 positively drives collar 55 with collar 52 in anti-clockwise movements of the latter. The collar 55 has a concentric cam lobe 6| adapted to ride beneath the stud 60 of the latch 31 when the latter is potentialized by a forward\ cooking of the toggle as shown in Fig. 5.. The cam lobe 6| is of such arcuate length that handle l4 must be moved substantially to its full on position before studlill drops off the step 62 of the cam 6| and trips the latch 31 into its hold-on notch N. Briefly reviewed, this feature of the operation is as follows, assuming the parts to be in position of Fig. 5 wherein the reset has cocked the toggle forward to potentialize the latch 31 and the handle I4 is in off position. A turning of thehandle l4 to on position will trip the latch oif the step 62 and as soon as plunger 33 is pushed in, it will be held in by the latch to keep the motor running. In turning the handle l4 back to off position for stopping the motor, the cam 6| is at first prevented from following cam 52 clockwise because the step 6] is blocked by stud 60. At or very near the'end of the off stroke of handle l4 its pawl 53 will have engaged roll 54 to cook the togglebackward to the left (see Fig. 4). This backward cooking of the toggle causes its pin 48 to engage the upper end of slot 49 inthe latch 31 and snap.

said latch upward to carry stud 66 away from the cam step 62. The cam 6| then moves clockwise under force of spring 56 to its restored position as shown in Fig. 4. The action described renders the latch inoperative for holding on the thus insures the necessity of a reset operationfor any subsequent latching on of the motor.

Afurther feature of advantage in the present construction although not essential for its successful operation in the manner above described, is that upon the conclusion of each dispensing operation when the handle I4 is swung off, it is locked against further movement until the reset shaft 23 is operated to zeroize the register. Also after resetting and swinging on the handle I4, the reset shaft 23 is locked against rotation until the handle I4 is swung off.

As heretoforementioned a rocking beam 40 is pivoted on the stud 38. One end 63 of said beam is adapted to enter a notch 64 of the collar 52 and lock the handle l4 since as before stated,

the collar 52 is fixed to the handle 15 of said handle. The other end 65 of the beam 40 is adapted to enter a notch 12 in collar 24 of the reset shaft and lock the latter against rotation. The beam 40 is rocked to one side or the other by the toggle arm 39. A roller 66 in said arm 39 bearsdown on a shoulder 10 of the beam 46 when the toggle is cocked backward as shown in Fig. 4. This action causes beam end 63 to enter and lock in notch 64 when the handle l4 reaches its off position. Similarly the roll 54 on the togle arm 39 bears down on shoulder H of said beam 16 when the toggle is cocked forward as shown in Fig. 5, and this action causes the beam end 65 to enter notch 12 of the collar 24. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the reset shaft 23 is not positively locked since the inclined edge of beam end 65 can ride out of the notch I2 as long as the beam end 63 is free to enter notch 64. But when handle I4 is turned to on position as shown in Fig.6, the beam end 63 will bear against a solid surface of collar 52 and the col1ar24 will then be positively locked.

The present application is a continuation in said flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, manually controlled hold-on means for premeans comventing the operation of said automatic stopping v means, said hold-on means comprising a latch actuated by operation of the reset mechanism,

' and a handle movable to on and 011 positions, the

on position of said handle serving ,to render said latch operative, and the off position of said handle serving to-render said latch inoperative.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicatingthe quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising means under hand control for causing said flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, and manually controlled hold-on means for preventing the operation of said automatic stopping means, said hold-on means comprising a latch actuated by operation of the reset mechanism, and a handle movable to on and off positions, and means requiring a substantially full on position of said handle to render said latch operative.

3. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establising means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising means under hand control for causing said flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, manually controlled hold-on means for preventing the operation of said automatic stopping means, said hold-on means comprising a latch actuated by operation of the reset mechanism, a handle movable to on and off positions, means requiring a substantially full on position of said handle to render said latch operative, and means requiring a substantially full off position of said handle to render said latch inoperative.

4. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising a turn-on member movable by hand to on position to cause the flow and tending automatically to return to its off position to stop the flow, a latch for holding said turn-on member in on position, means actuated by the operation of said reset mechanism to potentialize said latch for a holding action, a control handle having a stroke between on and off positions, means moved by the on stroke of said handle to trip said potentialized latch into holding action, and means moved by the oif stroke of said handle torender said latch inoperative.

5. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising a turn-on member manually movable to on position to cause the flow and tending auto-' matically to return to ofi position to stop theflow, manually controlled hold-on means for said turnon member comprising a latch and operating handle therefor, said handle-having a stroke between on and ofi positions, toggle cocking mechanism serving when cooked forward to render said latch potentially operable by said handle, and when cocked backward to render said latch inoperative, means requiring the operation of said reset mechanism to cock said toggle mechanism forward, and means requiring substantialy a full stroke of the handle to cook said toggle back ward.

6. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register,'the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flowestablishing means comprising a turn-on member manually movable to on position to cause the flow and tending automatically to return to of! position to stop the flow, manually controlled hold-on means for said turn-on member comprising a latch and operating handle therefor, said handle having a stroke between on and off positions, toggle cocking mechanism serving when cocked forward to render said latch potentially operable by said handle, and when cocked backward to render said latch inoperative, means requiring the operation of said reset mechanism to cock said toggle mechanism forward, means requiring substantially a full stroke of the handle to cock said toggle backward, means requiring a substantially full on position of said handle for causing said latch to assume its hold-on action with respect to said turn-on member, and means requiring a substantially full off position of said handle ior rendering said latch, inoperative.

7. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising means under hand control for starting said flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, and hand-controlled means operable, only after said register has been zeroized, to prevent the stopping of said flow by said automatic means.

8. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the-flow establishing means comprising a turn-on member under hand control and movable to start the flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, a hold-on member movable to retaining position to keep said flow in operation after it is started, and means whereby said hold-on member may be moved to its retaining position only after said reset mechanism is operated to zeroize said register.

9. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispense-d at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising' a turn-n member under hand control and movable to start the flow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, a hold-on member movable to retaining position to keep said flow in operation after it is started, and means whereby said hold-on member may be moved to its retaining position only after said reset mechanism is operated to zeroize said register, said hold-on member being movable manually from its retaining position to a releasing position for causing the stopping of said flow at any time.

10. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, 'a' register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising, a turn-on member under hand control and movable to on position for starting the movement of said hold-on member to its holding,

position until said reset mechanism is operated to zeroize said register. v

11. In liquid dispensing apparatus-having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at -each dispensingoperation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising, a turn-on member under hand control and movable to on position for starting the flow,

' and tending to move automatically to ofi position for stopping the flow, a hold-on member movable to hold said turn-on member in its on position, means to prevent movement of said hold-on member to its holding Position after the completion of a dispensing operation, and means actuated by an operation of said reset mechanism in zeroizing said register to remove the restraint of said preventing means on said hold-on member.

12. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising, a turn-on member under hand control and movable to on position for starting the flow, and tending to move automatically to oil position for stopping the flow, a' hold-on member under hand control and movable to hold said turn-on member in its onposition, said hold-on member and said turn-on member being so positioned and related that said hold-on member may not ,be moved to its holding position until said turn-on member is moved to its on position.

13. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising, a turn-on member under hand control and movable to on position for starting the flow, and tending to move automatically to oil position for stopping the flow, a hold-on member under hand control and movable to hold said turn-on member in its on position, said hold-on member and said turn-on member being so positioned and related that said hold-on member may not be moved to its holding position until said turn-on member is moved to its on position, and interlock mechanism controlled by said reset mechanism arranged to prevent the movement of said hold-on member to its holding position until said reset mechanism is operated to zeroize said register. I

14. In liquid dispensing apparatus having flow establishing means, a register for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed at each dispensing operation and reset mechanism for zeroizing said register, the combination therewith of controlling mechanism for the flow establishing means comprising means under hand control for.starting said ,fiow, automatic means tending to stop said flow, and hold-on means operable to restrain action of said automatic means in stopping said flow after it has been started, and means making the restraining operation of said hold-on means dependent upon the operation of said reset mechanism.

JOSEPH A. LOGAN.- 

